In a significant development this morning, Anglo American and De Beers announced their intention to separate, marking the next evolution in the ownership of De Beers, the world’s leading diamond company. Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, expressed his optimism about the future: “De Beers has led the diamond industry for more than a century. We have unparalleled expertise, outstanding assets across more than 20 countries, a unique sales model, and an iconic brand,
China’s first crude oil shipment from Niger has been blocked due to an ongoing dispute between the landlocked West African nation and its coastal neighbor, Benin. Benin restricted fuel exports from its port after Niger’s junta-led government refused to open its land border for goods from the south, announced Benin President Patrice Talon on Wednesday. As a result, at least three vessels carrying crude oil from Niger were prevented from docking. President Talon’s Statement:“If you
An Italian company, Eni Kenya BV, is set to harness Kenya’s biogas potential by establishing a facility that will convert waste from five major landfills into energy for households. Eni Kenya BV, a subsidiary of the long-established energy company in Kenya, aims to turn environmental hazards into a sustainable energy source. A feasibility study conducted by Eni Kenya BV concluded that setting up a biogas facility in Kenya is practical. The company is now awaiting
Lucara Diamond Corp.’s revenue fell in the first quarter due to a decrease in the quantity of large stones sold under its offtake agreement with HB Antwerp. Sales dropped 4% year-on-year to $41.1 million, the company reported last week. Lucara sold $36.2 million worth of goods through tenders and its Clara online platform, receiving an additional $4.9 million in top-up payments from HB Antwerp. This agreement involves the purchase of all diamonds over 10.8 carats
De Beers has significantly reduced the prices of its Lightbox lab-grown diamonds, responding to recent developments in the sector. The standard line, featuring I to J color diamonds, will now retail for $500 per carat, down from $800 per carat—a 37.5% reduction, according to a statement from the De Beers subsidiary on Friday. Diamonds with D to F color, VS clarity, and an excellent cut will be priced at $900 per carat, a 40% decrease
The European Union plans to exclude “grandfathered” goods from its sanctions on Russian diamonds, according to Reuters. Rough diamonds imported from Russia before January 1, 2024, and polished diamonds imported before March 1 — or September 1 for stones under 0.50 carats — will be exempt from the ban, the news service reported last week. The report cited proposals for a 14th package of EU sanctions on the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine, which
Exxon Mobil’s long-pending asset sale to Seplat Energy may finally conclude within two weeks, ending a two-year delay since the initial agreement. The $1.28 billion sale in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter, has been awaiting regulatory approval since 2022. Gbenga Komolafe, chief of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), informed Reuters that the companies have been invited to a meeting on Friday. “Subject to the outcome of the meeting, consent… could be given in
De Beers reduced prices for smaller rough diamonds at this week’s sight, though manufacturers say the adjustments aren’t enough to ease their profitability challenges. The miner cut the price of 3-grainer (0.75-carat) and smaller goods by 4% to 6%, market insiders told Rapaport News Tuesday. In 4- to 6-grainers (1 to 1.5 carats), the price decline was around 4%, they estimated. Prices of 5- to 10-carat rough increased slightly, though this partly reflected modifications to the assortments,
Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) – a subsidiary of energy major Shell – and Nigeria’s Oyo State Government have signed a partnership to establish a gas supply and distribution network aimed at providing gas to industrial and commercial consumers within the state. The project comprises the construction of 15km of pipelines with a capacity to deliver 60 million standard cubic feet per day, with first gas expected by Q4, 2025. SNG will construct and manage the gas distribution
Zambia is allocating $6 million towards boosting mineral production and enhancing sustainability, productivity and safety in mining operations through the establishment of the Mining Technology (MinTech) hub. The MinTech hub will serve as an innovation and collaboration centre for the mining industry, offering training and capacity-building programs to promote the adoption of new technologies and best practices. “We are the major producers of a variety of minerals, but specifically copper,” said Zambia’s Minister of Science
